Judge dismisses suit by fired Yosemite ranger who hung trans pride flag in park

Federal judge says ex-ranger, who sued US government over free speech, must follow process in Civil Service Reform Act A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by a former Yosemite national park ranger who was fired after flying a giant transgender pride flag from a rock wall that looms over the California park’s main thoroughfare. US district judge Jennifer Thurston found on Friday that Shannon “SJ” Joslin, who identifies as nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, must follow the process set out by the Civil Service Reform Act. Since Joslin was still a probationary employee at the time of their firing last year, that means they must file a complaint with the office of special counsel, which they have done. The office of special counsel denied Joslin’s initial request to put their termination on hold while investigating whether the Park Service broke the law, according to court filings. A final determination is due in August. Joslin, a biologist who studied bats, said they helped hang a 66ft transgender pride flag on El Capitan for about two hours on 20 May 2025, before taking it down voluntarily. Joslin hung the flag on their day off, not while they were on duty. They told t